Umbrella-stick.



No. 63l,942. Patented Aug. 29, I899. J. H. SPRAGUE. UMBRELLA STICK.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES H. SPRAGUE, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

U M BREL-jLA-STICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,942, dated August29, 1899. Application filed October 29, 1898. Serial No.694,961. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern,-

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. SPRAGU E, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Umbrella-Rod, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to umbrella-rods; and it has for its object toprovide a new and useful form of joint or coupling between thehandle-stick and the tip, whereby these parts shall be firmly securedtogether, while at the same time facilitating the assembling of thesections comprising the rod and permitting the latter to be providedwith a smaller and neater tip or point than it has heretofore beenpossible to use.

One of the essential features of the present invention is the provisionof the coupling extension which connects the handle-stick and the tipwith an integral top notch, thereby overcoming the disadvantages arisingfrom the use of the rivet, which is ordinarilypassed through the topnotch of an umbrella-rod to provide for securing the same in place.lVhere the notch is made separate from the stick or extension thereof,it is necessary to drill openings for the reception of the rivet, whichopenings weaken the stick and make the umbrella very frail; but by theuse of the present invention the use of the rivet and its consequentdisadvantages are entirely overcome.

With these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the tip portion of anumbrella-rod embodying the improved coupling-joint contemplated by thepresent invention. nal sectional view of the joint connection betweenthe handle-stick and the tubular tip. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4t is a detail in perspective of theextension coupling-stem.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates thehandle-stick of an umbrella-rod, which stick is of the usual tubularconstruction and is used in connec- Fig. 2 is a longitudi tion with thetip or point 2 of the rod, which tip or point is also tubular and hasfitted thereon, around the inner open end thereof, the usual cap 3,which covers the connection between the ribs and the top notch of therod.

The present invention contemplates an improved form of coupling betweenthe contiguous ends of the stick 1 and tip 2, and to provide for thiscoupling there is employed an extension coupling-stem 4:. Thiscouplingstem is provided intermediate its ends with an ordinary form ofnotch 5, which forms the top notch of the rod for the connection of theinner ends of the ribs thereto. An essential feature of theconstruction, however, is that the top notch 5 is formed integrally withthe extension coupling-stem 4, so that a loosening of said notchrelatively to the stem is entirely obviated. By reason of the fact thatthe top notch 5 is formed integrally with the stem 4: the use of therivet is entirely dispensed with and thereby avoids weakening of theextension. At one side of the notch the extension coupling-stem t has acylindrical portion which tightly wedges in the open end of thehandle-stick 1 and may be slightly tapered to insure a tight wedgingfit, while at the opposite side of the notch 5 the stem 4 islongitudinally fluted to form a plurality of longitudinal grooves 6,which are separated by narrow webs 7, having sharp edges to secure afirm grip within the open end of the tubular tip 2, which is fitted overthe said fluted portion of the extension-coupling 4. The fluted portionof the extension couplingstem has a tight wedging fit within the openend of the tip 2, and the sharp edges of the webs 7 bite into the innersurface of the tip and prevent longitudinal or axial displacementthereof.

radiating Webs engaging the inner surface of the tip, substantially asset forth.

2. In an umbrella-rod, the stick carrying an extension coupling-stemhaving a notch 5 and a longitudinally-fluted portion, and the tubulartip fitting over the fluted portion of said stem, substantially as setforth.

3. In an umbrella-rod,the combination with the tubular stick and thetubular tip, of an i of the stem fitting in the tip and provided with aplurality of longitudinal grooves and between such grooves with narrowengaging I 5 webs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. SPRAGUE.

IO extension coupling-stem having intermediate? WVitness'es:

its ends a notch and having one end fitting F. A. YOUNG, in the tubularstick, the opposite end portion E. C. SMITH.

